This is a list of Twin Cities area resources to help you get rid of yard waste, papers, clothing and any other type of household items you no longer need. This list will be added to and updated as needed.
CLEAN UP YOUR YARD
YARD WASTE COLLECTION SITES
Each county offers free yard waste collection sites or assistance for its residents. At these sites you can often pick up free compost for your garden (while it lasts). They may also offer junk collection days where you drop off items like tires or electronics and even hazardous waste for a discount. Check out your local county website for locations and times:
SHRED YOUR PAPERS
Office Depot is offering up to 5 pounds of FREE shredding with this coupon. It’s good through April 29th, 2014.
Pioneer Secure Shred in Minneapolis offers FREE shredding of up to 10 boxes of paper (banker’s box sized) on the first Friday of every month from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The next free shredding event will be May 2. Otherwise, a box of paper costs $3 each ($25 minimum). 155 Irving Av. N., Minneapolis, 612-381-2199.
Upcoming Free Paper Shredding Events:
At most Shred Right events, you can bring up to 2 boxes of documents or floppy discs for FREE secure shredding. Check with each location for limitations.
Saturday, April 12th:
9am-noon. Shred Right at US Federal Credit Union. 1400 Riverwood Dr., Burnsville, MN 55337.
9am-noon. Shred Right at US Federal Credit Union. 2772 East 82nd St., Bloomington, MN 55425.
9am-noon. Shred Right at US Federal Credit Union. 4290 Dean Lakes Blvd., Shakopee, MN 55379.
9am-noon. Shred Right at US Federal Credit Union. 6303 Old Central Ave. NE, Fridley, MN 55432.
9am-noon. Shred Right at US Federal Credit Union. 7644 160th St. W., Lakeville, MN 55044.
Friday, April 18th:
9am-2pm. Shred Right Washington County. 4039 Cottage Grove Drive, Woodbury, MN 55129. ***Open to Washington County Residents only.******
Saturday, April 19th:
9am-11:30am. Shred Right @ Security Victor Insurance Agency to benefit the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau. 5357 Wyoming Trail, Wyoming, MN 55092. Donations received will benefit the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau!
Saturday, April 26th:
9am-noon. Shred Right at First National Bank: Honey Locust-Northfield. 1611 Honey Locust Drive, Northfield, MN 55057.
Brooklyn Center Earthfest. Brooklyn Center Community Center. 1:00 – 4:00pm. Free paper shredding, activities.
Special Material Drop-Off Day. 8:00am – 3:00pm. The Hennepin Recycling Group (HRG) cities of Brooklyn Center, Crystal, and New Hope work in conjunction with the City of Brooklyn Park to host a special material drop off day. Free paper shredding. Free drop-off for scrap metal, bicycles, electronics, etc. Some items will be accepted for a fee.
Sunday, April 27th
10am-4pm. Shred Right at Earth Fair LaCrosse, Recycling Fair. Emerson Elementary. 2101 Campbell Road, La Crosse, WI. (2 blocks from Earth Fair!)
Saturday, May 3rd:
9am-11am. Shred Right at Klein Bank. 8900 Highway 7, St. Bonifacious, MN 55375.
9am-noon. Shred Right at Bloomington Rotary. Bloomington Public Works Parking Lot, 1700 W. 98th St., Bloomington, MN 55431. **All donations benefit the Bloomington Rotary!****
7am-3pm. Shred Right at City of Cottage Grove: Public Works Garage. 8635 W. Pt. Douglas Rd. S. Cottage Grove, MN.***Open to Washington County Residents only.******
Saturday, May 10th:
9am-11am. Shred Right at Community Resource Bank. 1501 County Road C West, Roseville, MN 55113.
Saturday, May 17th:
9am-11am. Shred Right at Community Resource Bank. 1605 Heritage Drive, Northfield, MN 55057.
9am-11am. Shred Right at Owatonna Rotary (20462). 1010 Hoffman Dr. NW, Owatonna, MN. (The old Walmart Building.) All donations benefit the Owatonna Rotary.
Noon-2pm. Shred Right at Klein Bank. 800 Faxon Road, Norwood Young America, MN 55397.
8am-2pm. Shred Right at Stillwater Lilly Lake Park. 1208 S. Greeley St., Stillwater, MN. ***Open to Washington County Residents only.******
Saturday, May 31st:
8am-2pm. Shred Right at Washington County. 19955 Forest Road N., Forest Lake, MN 55025. **Open to Washington County Residents only.***
Saturday, June 21st:
10am-1pm. Shred Right at Heathers Manor. 3000 North Douglas Drive, Crystal, MN 55422. Please bring 3 non-perishable food items for each box brought to be shredded. Food items benefitting the NEAR food shelf. Limit 5 boxes per household. No businesses please!
SELL YOUR ITEMS
Once Upon a Child is the largest kids resale franchise in North America. They buy and sell gently used kids clothing, toys and baby gear and pay you on the spot. (I sold items here once – you can leave the items with them while you shop or come back later. They didn’t want most of my items [I mostly had used baby toys], but gave me about $7 for a few. I used it to buy more kids stuff!)
Clothes Mentor buys and sells used women’s clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories. This is the place to sell higher-end, brand name items. They have 9 locations in the Twin Cities area.
Turn Style buys and sells used women’s and men’s clothing as well as home furnishings. They have 11 locations in the Twin Cities area.
NuLook Consignment carries women’s, men’s, children’s and maternity clothing and accessories. Items must be 3 years old or newer. You must make an appointment for consignment.
Plato’s Closet buys and sells the latest looks in brand name gently used clothing and accessories for teen and twenty something guys and girls (think Gap, Express, Abercrombie & Fitch, etc.). They have locations in Maple Grove, Coon Rapids, Roseville, Minnetonka and Woodbury.
Half Price Books will pay you cash for your books, music, movies, games, game consoles, e-readers, and you can spend this cash in the store or take it home with you. “We pay the most for recent bestsellers and collectibles, but we’re also interested in good books, music and movies of all kinds. The primary factors we consider when buying used merchandise of any kind are: 1.) condition 2.) supply and demand.” (I sold a boxful of books at Half Price Books for $2. Not much, but I wanted to get rid of them.)
Craigslist is a free service to buy and sell anything locally. I’ve sold, given away or bought furniture, clothing, sporting goods and appliances on craigslist.
DONATE YOUR ITEMS
To get full tax-deductible value out of your donated items, my tax preparer recommended itemizing or photographing your donations and attaching to the receipt provided at the donation center.
CAR SEATS
REseat Car Seat Recycling – Recycle used infant and toddler car seats for $10 per seat OR attend one of these free car seat recycling events:
2014 ReSeat Car Seat Recycling Events
May 2, 9:00 am-5:00 pm
May 3, 9:00 am-12:00 pm
Locations:
AAA in Burnsville
600 W. Travelers Trail
Burnsville, MN 55337-2518
AAA in St. Louis Park
5400 Auto Club Way
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
The first 1,000 carseats will be collected free of charge courtesy of AAA. Carseats collected after that will be charged a minimal fee of $10 for recycling. See website for year round drop off locations.
CLOTHING
Operation Glass Slipper collects gently used prom dresses, shoes and accessories and distributes them to Twin Cities high school students who can’t afford new dresses. Visit their website for a list of drop-off locations.
Dress for Success Twin Cities is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of women located in the Twin Cities area. Their clients need suits, blazers, blouses, pants/skirts, purses, closed-toe shoes and scarves. Clothing must be in nearly new condition and must be current. If possible, please donate dry-cleaned clothing that is ready for our clients to wear. Clothing donations are currently accepted by appointment at the Dress for Success Wardrobe Studio, 1549 University Avenue St. Paul, MN 55104. Please call 651-646-6000 to schedule your appointment. ALSO – C’est Chic is now a clothing drop-off site for Dress for Success Twin Cities! If you have 10 or fewer items, please stop by their shop and drop them off during business hours.
CELL PHONES
AT&T Wireless stores, Best Buy, Sprint stores, Staples, Target and Verizon Wireless stores all offer free cell phone recycling.
Check with your church or local schools which often collect cell phones as fundraisers.
FURNITURE
Bridging is a local organization that accepts donations of furniture items and household goods for those in need. They work with people transitioning out of homelessness to provide them with basic furniture & household goods. All donations are tax deductible, and they take some things that thrift stores won’t. They have locations in Roseville and Bloomington. (Thanks, Jamie P.!)
GENERAL REUSABLE HOUSEHOLD
These stores accept donations and will give you a tax-deductible receipt. Some will also give you a coupon for your next purchase (usually with an expiration date).
Thrift Stores
Savers – There are 7 Savers thrift stores in the Twin Cities area. Every time you donate reusable clothing and household items either to nonprofits or directly to Savers at one of their stores via a Community Donation Center, we pay the nonprofits. Over the past 10 years, we’ve paid more than $1.5 billion! (Donate and receive a coupon for 20-30% off your next purchase.)
Unique Thrift Store – There are 5 Unique and Valu Thrift stores in the Twin Cities area. Unique and Valu Thrift Stores are committed to giving back to the community through partnerships with several local charities.
Goodwill – There are over 30 Goodwill stores in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. Goodwill uses your donated goods to support programs that help prepare people for work.
Arc’s Value Village – There are 4 Arc’s Value Village thrift stores in the Twin Cities. Whenever you shop or donate at Arc’s Value Village, you’re helping children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. All proceeds go to support Arc Greater Twin Cities’ programs and services.
Salvation Army – There are 10 Salvation Army Family Stores plus many drop boxes in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. By shopping or giving at the Twin Cities area Salvation Army stores, you are helping to fund a life-saving rehabilitation program. To learn about the program, visit the Adult Rehabilitation Center website. Proceeds from stores in Greater Minnesota and North Dakota are used to support basic needs programs.
Websites
Twin Cities Free Market connects potential givers and takers of any type of item. The Free Market program was the first web based residential exchange program that specifically targeted the exchange of reusable and durable household goods. You have to register (for free) to give away or search for items, and you can’t charge anything for items you’re getting rid of.
Freecycle also connects potential givers and takers of any type of item. It’s similar to Twin Cities Free Market in that you have to register (for free), but is a network of groups around the world.
HOME BUILDING SUPPLIES
Habit for Humanity ReStore in New Brighton accepts just about any type of building supplies, from working appliances to bricks to countertops. Donations are tax deductible and 100% of proceeds support Habitat’s mission. Plus, you’ll be keeping good, reusable materials in use and out of landfills. We get donations from individuals, building supply stores, contractors, demolition crews and various businesses.
MEDICINE DROPOFF
Ramsey County has two free drop box locations for residents to drop off medicines. They accept prescription, over-the-counter and pet medicines. Needles and syringes are NOT accepted at these locations (except full epi-pens), BUT they are accepted FREE year-round at Ramsey County’s hazardous waste collection site at 5 Empire Dr, Saint Paul (ramseyatoz.com) or call 651-633-EASY (3279).
Hennepin County has six free drop box locations for residents to drop off medicines. Same as Ramsey County, except check their website for where to drop off needles and syringes.
Live in another County? Check your county’s website for locations available to you.
Most HealthPartners pharmacies have a collection program for medicines. Visit their website for details and locations.
Walgreens offers a mail-in disposal program. Pick up a specially designed envelope from your Walgreens store, place medicine inside, and drop it into any U.S. Postal Service mailbox and it will be sent to a medication incinerator facility. Read more about the Walgreens Safe Medication Disposal Program.
OTHER STUFF
Not sure where to donate your items? Call United Way at 211 for help.
For an excellent, more comprehensive list of resources for donating and managing your stuff around the Twin Cities area, visit Time to Organize’s website and click on their resources page. (Time to Organize is a business that offers organizing assistance for Twin Cities residents.)
Another great place for donating homegoods & furniture is Bridging. They work with people transitioning out of homelessness to provide them with basic furniture & household goods. All donations are tax deductible, and they take some things that thrift stores won’t. Check out their donation list and locations in Bloomington & Roseville. http://www.bridging.org
Thanks, Jamie! I added the Bridging info to the list.